Review: Seventh Generation Spring Cleaning with “The Lorax”

What do Seventh Generation, spring cleaning, Walmart and the Lorax all have in common? Why this blog post of course!Walmart and Seventh Generation have teamed and challenged the Walmart Moms to “Spring Clean like The Lorax”. A little over two weeks ago they sent us a nice selection of Seventh Generation products along with “The Lorax” by Dr. Suess.

I’m already a 7th Generation convert-thanks to last year’s “Seventh Generation Sustainability Challenge”. While I still make my own laundry soap and, I admit, am just as likely to buy another brand of dish soap as Seventh Generation when mine runs out, I have used only Seventh Generation bathroom cleaners and all purpose cleaners since they sent me that first box last year.

So the challenge was a bit of a wash-not because I didn’t like the products, but because I was already using them! It’s hard to notice a difference when you aren’t changing anything! So instead I’ll tell you a bit about why I like Seventh Generation products.

First of all I like the fact that the Seventh Generation products work. I mean let’s face it, it can be as ecological as all get out, but if it doesn’t work you are probably going to purchase something else. Even the toilet bowl cleaner works–and I have to admit I had my doubts about how well something that was that non toxic would do on the mess that was my kids bathroom. I just followed the steps that Heather over on Home Ec 101 gave for cleaning a really dirty toilet-which allowed the cleaner time to soak in unimpeded, and it worked like a charm!

Secondly I like the fact that I don’t have to worry about Seventh Generation Cleaning products putting toxic fumes into the personal environment of my home. Especially since I suffer migraines and try to limit the amount of extra “stuff” I’m breathing in.

Thirdly I like the fact that Seventh Generation products are gentle on the environment. As they say on their website:

“We believe our products are healthy solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home–and for the community and environment outside of it.”

Fourthly I just like the way the Seventh Generation products smell. It’s funny-they don’t have that harsh chemical smell you usually associate with cleaners. Probably because they don’t have the harsh chemicals that are IN most cleaners. Instead they have things like lavender lemongrass and thyme oil. When I clean the bathroom, the thyme oil (which disinfects naturally) makes it smells a bit like someone has been cooking Italian food in there As someone once told me “Seventh Generation has changed the way ‘clean’ smells to me”

So what about “The Lorax”? I had never read the story before Seventh Generation sent us the book. Actually I guess you could say that I STILL haven’t read the story, as Buddy commandeered the book as soon as it came in and read it to us all.

The story of the Lorax is all about how the “Once-ler” invented the “Thnead” which “everyone needs”. .. but to make it he chops down a Truffala tree. The Lorax appears and tells him that he needs to stop, but he continues anyway. As the more and more people want the “Thnead” they cut down more and more trees, build a factory and start polluting the air, water and land.

Eventually the animals all leave. They continue chopping & polluting until the very last Truffula tree is chopped down. The Lorax leaves with just an enigmatic sign left behind that says “Unless”.

Now there are no trees, no animals. . . not even any more Thneads since there are no trees left to make them from. Instead there is bad air, bad water & bad soil. . . and one single Truffula seed. The story ends with the Once-ler telling the young boy who came to ask him about what happened:

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot, nothing’s going to get better. It’s not.

And giving him the final Truffala seed in existence.

I think it’s an interesting story-it’s not simply that he cut down a tree and all cutting is evil-it’s that they. It down all the trees and didn’t take care with the way they did it so in the end not only were all the resources gone-bit that had polluted and destroyed other resources in the process.

My kiddos were quick to understand and see parallels in our own lives. Why we recycle. Why we compost. Why we use a rain barrel. Why we walk instead of drive when we can.

To me both The Lorax and Seventh generation are not only about being green-but being sustainable-a topic which is dear to my heart.